[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7090-7091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4275]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
46 CFR Part 108, 110, 111, 112, 113, and 161

[CGD 94-108]
RIN 2115-AF24


Electrical Engineering Requirements for Merchant Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As a result of requests from a national trade association, the 
Coast Guard will hold a public meeting and extend the comment period 
for a proposed rule published on February 2, 1996, an additional 15 
days beyond the original 45 day comment period on its proposed 
electrical engineering regulations for merchant vessels.

DATES: The meeting will be held March 25, 1996, and will begin at 9 
a.m. Comments must be received on or before April 2, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in room 2230, Department of 
Transportation, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, 
Marine Safety Council (G-LRA/3406) (CGD 94-108), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001 or may 
be delivered to room 3406 at the above address between 8 a.m. and 3 
p.m., 

[[Page 7091]]
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 
(202) 267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gerald P. Miante, Project Manager, 
Design and Engineering Standards Division (G-MMS), (202) 267-2206.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Proposed Electrical Engineering Regulations

    As a part of the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative, the 
Coast Guard issued a notice of proposed rulemaking published on 
February 2, 1996 (61 FR 4132) to amend its current electrical 
engineering regulations to reduce the regulatory burden on the marine 
industry, purge obsolete and out-of-date regulations, and eliminate 
requirements that create an unwarranted differential between domestic 
and international standards. The proposed rulemaking would harmonize, 
where possible, the electrical engineering regulations with the recent 
amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at 
Sea, 1974, as amended. Additionally, the proposed rulemaking would 
dramatically revise certain prescriptive electrical equipment design, 
specification, and approval requirements and replace them with 
performance-based requirements that incorporate international 
standards.

Public Meeting

    A national trade association requested a public meeting to afford 
vessel and equipment designers, builders, and owners the opportunity to 
present comments in person and to let the project managers interact 
with the affected industry segments. The national trade association 
also indicated that many of its vessel owners will be affected by these 
proposed electrical engineering regulations and have not had adequate 
time to fully evaluate their impact.
    The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting on March 25, 1996. The 
public is invited to comment on the technological and economic 
feasibility of the proposed electrical engineering regulations.
    Attendance is open to the public. With advance notice, and as time 
permits, members of the public may make oral presentations during the 
meeting. Persons wishing to make oral presentations should notify the 
person listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than 
the day before the meeting. Written material may be submitted prior to, 
during, or after the meeting.

Extension of Comment Period

    To accommodate the request for a public meeting, the Coast Guard is 
extending the comment period and holding a public meeting. Persons 
unable to attend the public meeting are encouraged to submit written 
comments. The comment period is extended until April 2, 1996.

    Dated: February 20, 1996.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director for Standards, Office of Marine Safety, Security and 
Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 96-4275 Filed 2-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M